Humber Bay Medical Imaging
Why choose HBMI?
Our first priority when welcoming new and old patients into our facility is to make sure they feel at home with us.
With an experienced team of Radiologists and Technologists, we are one of the best clinics in GTA.
Exceptional Medical Imaging.
Humber Bay Medical Imaging top class diagnostic services in a comfortable and convenient community setting, right in the heart of GTA. We are easily accessible by public transit.
Whether you are a patient who resides or works in the area or are a medical professional in search of a reliable Ultrasound Clinic, We welcome your appointments and referrals.
Neck Ultrasound
Your doctor would order an ultrasound of the neck if he or she suspects a problem or a developing condition in your carotid arteries, lymph nodes, or thyroid.
Obstetrical ultrasound
Obstetrical ultrasound provides pictures of an embryo or fetus within a woman’s uterus, as well as the mother’s uterus and ovaries.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
An imaging procedure that allows doctors to see muscles, joints, and more. For diagnosing muscle tears/strains, nerves, and arthritis.
Exercise Stress Test
A stress test, also called an exercise stress test, shows how your heart works during physical activity. An exercise stress test can reveal problems with blood flow within your heart.
Frequently asked questions
General
X-Rays are offered on a walk-in basis, no appointment is required. Ultrasound, Mammography/OBSP, and BMD exams required appointments to be made in advance.
Yes, you will need a requisition from your doctor or nurse practitioner for all examinations.
If you have time to prepare before the exam, we ask that you shower, refrain from wearing scented products and wear clothing that is easily removed if necessary. You may be asked to remove items that may interfere with the exam. It is recommended that you leave valuables at home, as the clinic does not offer secure storage of personal items. Some exams may require further preparation, please click here for more details.
We request that you do not bring children with you to your exam. To prevent exposure to the radiation they cannot enter the x-ray rooms with you. Because our staff needs to focus on other patients they are not able to supervise children in the waiting room. Please arrange to leave the children at home or to bring another adult to watch them in the waiting room.
General exams can range from 10 minutes to 1 hour. Please ask our receptionists for more details.
Our technologists are registered and are specially trained to perform your exam, but only radiologists are qualified to interpret your results. For this reason, our technologists cannot discuss what they see with you.
We have teamed up with PocketHealth for you to be able to view your images online! You may also purchase a CD of your images. Please speak with our receptionists for more information.
Your results are reviewed first by the radiologist and the report is usually faxed to your doctor by the end of the day. Urgent results will be phoned or faxed to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor also has the option to view your results online.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound energy that produces sound waves is not harmful when properly applied for the purpose of medical diagnostic imaging. Sonographers ensure that they follow the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably acceptable) and limit exposure to what is required. Ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation such as is required for x-ray.
There are two barriers in producing a good quality exam –gas and bone. Contrary to what many think, fat is not the main barrier. Sound waves need a medium to travel. Air is not a medium and therefore blocks the path of the ultrasound beam. The liquid is a good conductor and that is why gel is applied to the body to allow for greater contact between the probe and skin. Bone is a sense solid medium, too dense for sound to penetrate. As a result, bone disorders cannot be diagnosed by ultrasound.
In order to produce good quality images, the patient is required to fast for at least 8 hours prior to the exam. This reduces the amount of gas content in the abdomen. This includes chewing gum. Drinking water with medication does not prevent the sonographer from attaining good pictures.
The type of ultrasound exam will determine whether you need to drink water for the test. If the exam is an abdominal ultrasound, the patient does not need to drink water. A pelvic ultrasound requires at least 40 Oz of water 1 hour prior to the appointment time. The full bladder serves as a window to see your pelvic organs (i.e. uterus, ovaries, or prostate). Without a full bladder, it is difficult to see them.
An abdominal ultrasound requires that you fast for at least 8 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. This reduces the amount of gas in your abdomen (which obstructs the abdominal organs). Eating triggers the digestive system to take effect. This causes the gallbladder to contract, preventing the sonographer to visualize abnormalities such as gallstones.
If you are seeing your doctor immediately after your ultrasound appointment, a verbal report will be called or faxed to your Doctor. If you are not seeing your doctor after the ultrasound test, a final report will be faxed to your doctor within 24-48 hours.
All of our sonographers are certified under the American Registry of Diagnostic medical Sonographers (ARDMS) and/or the Canadian Association of Registered Diagnostic Ultrasound Professionals (CARDUP). This means they have:
- Education in ultrasound and patient skills, including both theory and clinical instruction.
- A passing grade on ARDMS/CARDUP rigorous examination, which evaluates the intensive knowledge base required to practice sonography.
- Stay on the cutting edge in both ultrasound technology and patient care skills through ARDMS/CARDUP required continuing medical education program.
- Practice within the guidelines set by the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR), Canadian Society of Medical Diagnostic Sonographers (CSDMS) and the Ontario Society of Medical Diagnostic Sonographers (OSDMS).
Sonographers are trained by one of the following:
- 3 year total program that requires the completion allied health education program (eg. Nursing, radiology, nuclear medicine) prior to one year of additional specialized ultrasound training in medical sonography.
- Bachelor’s degree in medical radiation sciences.
- Physician (generally a foreign trained physician) with an additional 1 year of tull-time theoretical and clinical ultrasound training.
Sonographers are not permitted to discuss the results with the patient. The results of the examination will be sent to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss the results with you.
